Delayed-action device



May 6 1924. 1,493,276

' E. FONS DELAYED ACTION DEVICE Filed Feb. 16. 1922 Fig.2.

Inventor: Eugene Poms,

His Attorney.

Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

- EUGENE FONS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC C6393:-

PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DELAYED-ACTION Environ Application filed February 16, 1922. Serial No. 537,107.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EUGENE PONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectadyfln the county of Schenectady,

@ State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Delayed- Action Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to delayed action 159 devices and has for its object the provision of improved means whereby a time interval may be obtained in a reliable, simple and eificient manner.

My invention relates more specifically to 1% the provision of a delayed action switch in which there is provided a time interval between the energization of the operating electromagnet and the opening or closing, whichever the case may be, of the contacts.

as Various devices have been provided for delaying or retarding the action of a switch. The well known dash pot is a type of such a device. For the most part these devices either are mechanically defective or they 4 are inherently limited to the production of a very short time interval. In carrying out my invention I provide a relatively long time interval which is free of the defects of the previous devices of this character. In to one embodiment of my invention I provide a track upon which is mounted a weight havin an axis of rotation of relatively small diameter so that the weight travels a relatively short distance upon the track in to making a revolution. The track may be circular in form and mounted on the inside of a drum or cylinder. If the track is in a vertical-plane, the weight will tend to assume aposition at the lowest point of the "D track. With the weight in this position, if

the traekwere turned, for instance, by turning it on the axis of the cylinder, it will tend to carry the weight with it thereby applying a load: but as soon as the weight 45 leaves its normal position it starts to roll back slowly thereby relieving the load. The cylinder may, therefore, with very little effort be rotated slowly enough to allow the weight to roll back to its normal position.

so In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention applied to an electromagnetic switch, Fig. 1 is afront view partly in section of a switch embodying myv features; Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the same; and Fig. 3 shows the details of construction.

Referring to the drawings, therefore, represents the coil and 11 the movable core of an electromagnetic operating means for an electromagnetic switch having the movable contact 12 and the fixed contact 13. 14 represents the. drum containing the retarding means. As illustrated in the drawing, this retarding means consists of two annular tracks 15 and 16 forming the two bearings for the axis 17 of a circular weight 18. It will be noted that the axis 17 is of relatively small diameter so that one revolution of the weight will represent a very short distance of travel along the track, assuming that the weight rolls upon the track. These two tracks are concentric with the axis 19 0t the drum 14 within which the tracks are -mounted. It should be noted that if the drum 14 should be rotated on its axis 14 there is a tendency to carry the weight around with it. This applies a load to the drum which will increase as the distance of the weight from the center increases up to 90 degrees. In other words, if the weight were fastened upon the inside of the drum, a substantial effort would be required to turn the drum. \Vith the arrangement shown, however, as soon as the drum starts to turn the weight which normally has a position at the bottom of the track Wlll start to roll back towards that position. If, there-- fore, the drum 14 should be rotated at the same rate as that at which the weight rolls back. it would not be substantially retarded by the weight. This gives a time interval. This, it will be observed, requires the drum 14 to move slowly, providing, of course, there is not force enough applied to actually lift the weight.

This retarding mechanism is applied to the switch through a rack 20 on the end of a rod 21 connected to the movable core 11. This rack cooperates with a pinion 22. The pinion 22 is not directly connected with drum 14 but is connected with it through a spring 23 mounted upon a cylindrical member 24. The pinion 22 is directly connected tothe member 24 so that upon the energizetion of the winding 10 the upward movement of the rod 21 will cause the rotat on of the member 24 thereby placing the spr ng 23 under tension. One end of the spring 23 is fixed to the cylindrical member while the other end engages a projection 26 on the contact member 12. This contact member is connected with the shaft 27 which extends through the cylindrical member 24 by a slip connection which I have shown in the form of a ratchet andpawl arrangement. This ratchet and pawl connection is 'for permitting the free return of the switch arm unimpeded by the retarding mechanism. A pawl 28 is pivoted to a projection 29 on the switch arm and the cooperating pawl- 30 is secured to shaft 27. v As the projection .26 is driven in one direction by the spring,

it will drive the switch arm through the pawl and ratchet. When the member 24 is driven in the opposite direction upon the deenergization of the magnet winding 10, a projection 31 turns the switch arm, the pawl slipping over the ratchet. The result is that when the winding 10 is energized and the core raised, the spring. 27 will give the contact member 12 a tendency to move towards closed position.

The movement towards closed position is,

- however, retarded by the drum to, which it I is attached. The spring gives the drum 14 a tendency to rotate on its axis, which tendency is not sufficient to actually lift the weight to any height, but is suificient to move it somewhat. A slight rotation of the drum causes the weight, which will be moved with it, to roll back to its normal position and when it is rolled back the drum may be rotated again. The result is that by rotating the drum 14 at the rate at which the weight rolls back there will be very little or no opposition to the movement. If, however, it were moved more rapidly than this jection 31, the pivot now slipping over the ratchet so that the retarding device is not if driven. The switch will therefore open I freely and quickly.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit means for retarding said movement comprising a weight acting with increasing leverage upon the switch member as the latter moves, said weight being mounted to slowly return when so moved. Y

2; A delayed action switch comprising a movable switch member, an electromagnet, a yielding connection between the electromagnet and the switch member whereby the latter is given a tendency to move upon the energization of said magnet and means for retarding said switch member comprising a weight acting with increasing leverage upon the switch member as the latter moves, said Weight being mounted to slowly return when so moved. I 8. A delayed action switch comprising a movable switch member, an electromagnet, a yielding connection between the electromagnet and the switch member. whereby the latter is given a tendency to move upon the energization of said magnet, and means for retarding said movement comprising a circular track secured in a vertical plane to said switch member and a weight freely rotatable on saidtrack.

4:. A delayed action switch comprising a movable switch member, means for giving the switch member a tendency to move, and means for retarding said movement compris: ing a track and a circular weight having a relatively small axle mounted on said track, and normally occupying a predetermined position thereon, said weight being movable with said switch member from its normal position with a gradually increasing tendency to return by rolling on said track.

' 5. A' delayed .action switch comprising a movable switclrine'inber, an electromagnet,

a yielding connection between the electromagnet and the switch member whereby the latter is given a tendency to move upon the energization of said magnet, a circular track secured in a vertical plane to said switch member, and a weight having a relatively small axle mounted to rotate freely on said track and normally at the bottom thereof so as to act with increasing leverage as the latter is turned and roll back toward its normal position when moved therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, 1922.

EUGENE PONS. 

